Chilly Scenes of Winter (originally released as Head over Heels) is a 1979 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Joan Micklin Silver, based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Ann Beattie. Although the film got mixed reviews and flopped at the box office upon its original release as Head Over Heals with an ad campaign that positioned it as am offbeat goofy comedy, the film had strong supporters that eventually led to a theatrical re-release in 1982 in a slightly edited version under the title of Beattie's novel. The film has been cited as a cult film by multiple cinematic sources. Plot Charles Richardson is a civil servant in his early 30s, working in the Department of Development in Salt Lake City, Utah, and he is an impetuous romantic. One day, he meets Laura Connolly in the filing department of his office, and it is love at first sight. Laura is a married woman who has just moved out on her husband Jim, a log-home salesman. She is disillusioned by her own marriage and wants to find herself. Charles gathers his courage and asks her out. Soon, she moves in with him and seems happy, but starts having second thoughts. According to Laura, he loves her too much. "You have this exalted view of me, and I hate it. If you think I'm that great, then there must be something wrong with you." Laura leaves Charles and goes back to her husband Jim. Sam, recently unemployed as a jacket salesman, moves in with Charles, who tries to grapple with the loss of Laura. Charles's mother, meanwhile, is an eccentric who has suicidal thoughts. Charles begins to make efforts to win Laura back. Charles finds out from his secretary Betty that Laura has left Jim once again and is living in an apartment with a roommate. Charles confronts Laura, finally asking her to decide if they will have a future together. Cast John Heard as Charles Mary Beth Hurt as Laura Peter Riegert as Sam Kenneth McMillan as Pete Gloria Grahame as Clara Nora Heflin as Betty Jerry Hardin as Patterson Tarah Nutter as Susan Mark Metcalf as Jim Griffin Dunne as Mark Production Producer Mark Metcalf says that United Artists, which financed the picture, offered to double the movie's $2.5 million budget to $5 million if John Heard was replaced by one of three actors